Glad you had the foresight to do this while you’re still young, instead of staying in the rat race paying rent, utilities, etc., that is the trap that keeps most people from getting ahead financially in life. At 66, it is probably too late for me to start a journey like this, I regret not going this route earlier in my life, but this wasn’t my mindset back then.
I'm retiring at 65, and I'm going to do something like this to make my social security and what limited retirement funds I have stretch. I will go live out in the desert in the winter. Travel up north in the hotter months.
Definitely something for people of all adult workforce ages, especially the older generation and retirees to consider doing as affordable living gets increasingly more expensive.
It was long but not at all boring. I like the way you do things, if you’re going to do it, then do it right, attitude that I appreciate in people. (Plus, commenting helps your algorithm). I have subscribed and can’t wait for more. ❤
I lived in a box truck for 6 years, a year while I in MMI and then 5 years after when I was a travelling tech for Indian Motorcycles. The 2 pieces of advice I will give you after learning pretty quick...1. paint the entire truck, body and box with truck bed liner. It adds another layer of insulation plus it's pretty much indestrucible and 2. Safe your space and don't build a bathroom/shower, stay in state/federal parks, They have bathrooms/shower/laundry facilities, Most RV parks don't, plus they are cheaper per night than an RV parks.
Indian Motorcycles? I thought they stopped building them. They are right up there with Harley's! OK, maybe better, the instructions don't say carry your tools while riding😅😂😅😂
My favorite shower method now is Vinegar diluted in Water in a Spray bottle. Just wet paper-towels or small reusable Swedish towel. If is SOOO fast and easy. Vinegar cuts through grease and bio-dirt beautifully. No odors, feel refreshed too. I don't even miss showers/baths because of this hack.
This remodeling is surprisingly interesting. You are awesome - smart, talented, and energetic!! Wishing you the best. Your travel videos are next best thing to being there. Leaving in the long drives, but sped up adds to actual experience.
Your videos are epic! Reaallly digging this style of calm, not overhyped things. This truck is kinda short - gonna be an interesting home! Since it so short I would personaly not made a second entrance, and just use the cab one. More space. Too bad it does not have over the cab bed, its like the most space efficient thing ever in rv's. Thanks for the videos, cheers from Ukraine!
When I found your website, you had 96 subscribers. Today over 700 and increasing rapidly. Well deserved. Take care not to put excess stress on your hands while remaking your van. When you're 80+, your hands will hurt (voice of experience.) Have watched all your videos, some multiple times.
Please don't worry about videos being too long. This is great stuff. Your videography, pacing, and the aspects of the build you choose to feature are very useful as I consider doing something similar. It won't happen for a few years, but I'm using that time to gather as many ideas as I can, and I've reached the conclusion that a box truck is probably the most adaptable sort of vehicle for a conversion.
I am looking forward to following your build. SPECIFICALLY spend a significant ammount of time on the MEP's. I want to see your thought process on waste tanks and wiring. I see so many youtubers do these conversions and seems like the plumbing and wiring are an afterthought. They build with no plan. I want to do this myself in a few years (except the homeless part).
Hi Dave, James here from Rhode Island. Looking forward to watching the build. You definitely have some skills so I’m sure this is going to come out nice and something you will be proud of. If your mother is watching I hope she asked you to get a pair of safety glasses. 😂
I have an idea Put a bed, a computer table, and a ebike and work by delivering food or delivering packages. You can put the truck in park and then go and work by bike. You can work online, and you can work and then sleep.
the aluminum bitumen paint is great. it doesnt last forever though but fortunately it isnt too expensive and another coat will revitalize the whole vibe.
Ya pass thru to the back is important. If weird things are going on outside, makes sense to be able to drive away without going outside & putting yourself in danger.
Please keep the snake art if saw that and immediately thought that would be awesome if you kept it and even did line-x with that same blue on the outside man that would be sick
Remove the skirt/trim and hang truck boxes for extra storage and to hide waste tanks. Lowering the clearance will be no big deal in that part of the bed.
Look up under the lower body of the box, you might want to cut off below the floor and put some storage boxes under there for chairs and recovery gear etc.
Klean Strip Klean-Strip Concrete and Metal Prep from Lowes or Home Depot is a great rust prep and rust prevention. Cheaper than Ospho and works just as great. It's phosphoric acid. Try it
Yes! Snakes! Motorhome captains chair, nice. I have an idea if given your situation I would look for a luxurious chair that reclines flat for sleeping and that would be my bed.
You will want to use steel cutting hacksaw blades in a pro model sabre saw to cut the access door in your cab. That plywood fiberglass board will dull a regular blade in inches of cutting it, I have experience with that.
I’d keep that vacuum gauge (fuel economy gauge). Mechanics use them for troubleshooting. It’ll tell you if there’s engine problems and also can tell you what may be the problem (fuel system, valves sticking etc). Just put tape over it if you are getting freaked out.
Honda has the same problem, my 2011 Pilot's white paint is peeling. Once I get another car, I'll get it repainted in Tijuana for the cheap. Btw, I meant American Honda cars. Never heard or seen any paint problems with Japanese white cars like the NSX or S2000, but then again, those cars are unique and the quality control for them are much higher.
Too bad you’re not near Cincinnati, I’d introduce you to Lusid’s Global Star L7 paint which can be painted direct to metal. A lot of the guys here use it to paint frames on trucks after preparing it. It does get a hardener mixed into it like a single stage paint BUT it is extremely durable.
Definitely, leave the snakes and remove the U-Haul and everything else. I am going to be doing one soon. I've actually got the same truck like yours and I've got a step van and I've got a Ford E 350 with a Stahl service box that I am looking to trade for a box I think. I've got to decide witch platform to work from. The Ford only has 150. 000 original Miles on it and I believe that the Chevy also only has 166 thousand miles and the step van while it's the coolest is a 79 GMC and has a straight 6 , manual transmission with who knows how many miles. But it's got the most room and it's aluminum. So I don't know. Anyway good luck. Great video, keep them coming.
I've seen a couple remove the inside walls to the studs and with with aluminum studs kinda 1x1 square walls and ceiling but added more than normal on the walls and ceiling it's light than wood and stronger, you could also use iron 1x1 square, walls and ceiling. You know your walls and ceiling are tough. I would get E rating tires they better and gives you more legal weight
We ain't much different, I had some of the same ideas, and you give me some too, but I would not worry about a few things or making it to perfect. Jose Alaniz fromTN.
1:11:30 that aluminum coating wasnt bad. Thats how it comes. Ive laid down tens of thousands of square feet of similiar non-fibered aluminum coating on roofs. You need to mix it either with a shaker or a paddle on an electric drill.
I saw somebody do a similar thing but they kept the rollup door and just put the type of wall you want with a door inside of the rollup door for discretion.
Cool video. Definitely subscribing. Fun fact with how much you are going to spend on making this camper you could buy a decent size house here in Brasil 🤣
It may seem mundane, but on the headliner, there is a middle hump. I've wondered what's behind it other than the airbags in the upper curtain area above the head area on both sides for some vans. Was looking into putting a small CB radio in that spot. Nice vision for a future home build. Keep up the great work.
What i like about this channel is the videos are long and youre talking as youre working, so theres some insight as to your thought process. The editing is less about time lapses with trendy music, although its ok if you eventually grow into that....some. If you do install a CB radio, your call sign has to be "Viper"
Viper! love it.. yeah the free youtube music is terrible. i waste way too much time trying to find the least-annoying ones to put over time lapses. i might subscribe to a service that has better stuff to offer.
They say for best results to use Marine grade or automotive paint. Now it maybe a lil more money but that’s what it’s made for. The wear and tear if you will also maybe raptor linner. You can spray your self. Once again it depends on your funds but it would be doing it right to where no worries to come for years, like close to a decade or more vs like what you were going to use.
By the time you get all the weight in it The leaf springs will be just fine and if you're going to put a lift kit in it, you should see might as well make it four-wheel drive
They make plastic wood blocks that don't rot, but going that far into replacing them may open a bigger can of worms. The ride will be rough until you add weight. I have a 2500 cargo, and it rides the same.
Hey dave enjoyed your vid. Im doing a stepvan right now so alot of simalarities except my box is integeral its a 3500 w19.5 wheels pretty heavy suspension some one built out the inside before i got it but i didnt like it so i gutted it except for the insulation and walls waiting to see what you do on the inside on yours maybe get some new ideas looks like its comming along really well thank you for the vid and ill be watching, where are you ? Im in nm hope you have a good week😊
Was the vid long? Maybe….but boring? Oh nay nay. I am fascinated by your detailed work. I just found you today and subscribed to your channel after 2 minutes of watching. I’m a sort-of old fart woman who dreams of doing what you’re doing. Can’t tell you enough how great it is that you’re doing this when you’re young. It takes gumption and talent and you seem to have lots of both. Looking forward to learning from you. Keep it coming.
I built out my 17-ft U-Haul box truck and call it Resolve. Been traveling full time in it for a year. If you need any suggestions let me know. Remember it is a rolling earthquake!!! And yes I only get 8 mi to the gallon with mine at 12,300 lbs total. But the room makes it worth it!!!
The snakes are cool, but depending on where you plan to travel, the snakes may make it stick out. Some people like to keep the work van look so they can just park in a walmart parking lot to stay the night without getting unneeded attention. This seems to be the way to go now adays. Park your home where you want it!
![[TH] 2024 PMGC League | Survival Stage วันที่ 1 | PUBG MOBILE Global Championship](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FVFT-PFwU80/mqdefault.jpg)
Oh yes love the build amazing can’t wait to see it when you’re finished. Oh yeah the completed project
Glad you had the foresight to do this while you’re still young, instead of staying in the rat race paying rent, utilities, etc., that is the trap that keeps most people from getting ahead financially in life. At 66, it is probably too late for me to start a journey like this, I regret not going this route earlier in my life, but this wasn’t my mindset back then.
It's never too late! One search of TH-cam and you see people in their 60s and 70s starting this journey! You can do it too!
@@Debo486thanks for the encouragement this is something that I’m interested in doing
No way you're too old! Go for it.
I'm retiring at 65, and I'm going to do something like this to make my social security and what limited retirement funds I have stretch. I will go live out in the desert in the winter. Travel up north in the hotter months.
Definitely something for people of all adult workforce ages, especially the older generation and retirees to consider doing as affordable living gets increasingly more expensive.
It was long but not at all boring. I like the way you do things, if you’re going to do it, then do it right, attitude that I appreciate in people. (Plus, commenting helps your algorithm). I have subscribed and can’t wait for more. ❤
I lived in a box truck for 6 years, a year while I in MMI and then 5 years after when I was a travelling tech for Indian Motorcycles. The 2 pieces of advice I will give you after learning pretty quick...1. paint the entire truck, body and box with truck bed liner. It adds another layer of insulation plus it's pretty much indestrucible and 2. Safe your space and don't build a bathroom/shower, stay in state/federal parks, They have bathrooms/shower/laundry facilities, Most RV parks don't, plus they are cheaper per night than an RV parks.
thanks for the advice i appreciate it!
Indian Motorcycles? I thought they stopped building them. They are right up there with Harley's! OK, maybe better, the instructions don't say carry your tools while riding😅😂😅😂
@@SusanRogersMakingItWork4Me Indian never really went away, They were built by a campany in California until Polaris bought them in 2015.
My favorite shower method now is Vinegar diluted in Water in a Spray bottle. Just wet paper-towels or small reusable Swedish towel. If is SOOO fast and easy. Vinegar cuts through grease and bio-dirt beautifully. No odors, feel refreshed too. I don't even miss showers/baths because of this hack.
This remodeling is surprisingly interesting. You are awesome - smart, talented, and energetic!! Wishing you the best. Your travel videos are next best thing to being there. Leaving in the long drives, but sped up adds to actual experience.
PS give Kitty Poops some extra strokes
Thank you so much!
Your videos are epic! Reaallly digging this style of calm, not overhyped things.
This truck is kinda short - gonna be an interesting home! Since it so short I would personaly not made a second entrance, and just use the cab one. More space.
Too bad it does not have over the cab bed, its like the most space efficient thing ever in rv's.
Thanks for the videos, cheers from Ukraine!
Love that you kept the snakes! What an undertaking...best of luck with it...I'll be watching! Yeah, the Snake Pit....
Love the snakes can't wait to see the finished product.
When I found your website, you had 96 subscribers. Today over 700 and increasing rapidly. Well deserved.
Take care not to put excess stress on your hands while remaking your van. When you're 80+, your hands will hurt (voice of experience.)
Have watched all your videos, some multiple times.
thank you for your support, and your wisdom!
The tone, the music, the aim of longevity for the health of the van. I'm so stoked to see how this build goes. Awesome stuff.
i love the snakes im glad you decided to keep them!
Snakes! Cool!!❤
People just don't realize how useful some snakes are...
Please don't worry about videos being too long. This is great stuff. Your videography, pacing, and the aspects of the build you choose to feature are very useful as I consider doing something similar. It won't happen for a few years, but I'm using that time to gather as many ideas as I can, and I've reached the conclusion that a box truck is probably the most adaptable sort of vehicle for a conversion.
Longer is better for these kinds of videos.
Looking forward to your build and learning from you much appreciated😊
Why not just buy an r v
@michaeld954 Uhmmm...because a serious lack of adequate insulation and the RV layout is *their* design vision, not his?
I’m going to enjoy this build excellent attention to detail.
Brilliant video. Much better than the short videos most people post. Love the way you explained everything as you went along too.
Cheers
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
The snakes are so Kool, I just now came upon ur videos, I enjoyed watching it, I will continue to watch, watching you from West Tennessee.
Great job so far on the van! Can't wait to see the finished product!👍👍
Hahaha 😅 Yes my 2012 Express has that same problem in spots..... Going to spray paint on a nice weather weekend
I gotta be honest...... the snakes...... I would be in heaven! That is a damn cool graphic! I love it!
You said you don't want to make long videos.....the longer the better if you ask me...I'm hooked.
its not that i dont want to. i just get too busy to edit them. this saturdays vid should be at least an hour 😺
I always enjoy a box van build
I loved seeing the different types of pictures of the Uhales on road trips
Awesome job dude! Wished this was a thing 30 years ago, I could’ve did this comfortably
Just found you on TH-cam, love your videos!!!!
I personally found when painting just one area mask the rest of the vehicle to keep the spatter, dripps and runa down your other areas to a minimum
3 minutes in the video and I have a feeling this is going to be the best one out there so far
I loved them all. My favorite was the one with the rear kitchen. Keep making these videos. They are fun and informative. #Alliance. #Liquified
I am looking forward to following your build. SPECIFICALLY spend a significant ammount of time on the MEP's. I want to see your thought process on waste tanks and wiring. I see so many youtubers do these conversions and seems like the plumbing and wiring are an afterthought. They build with no plan.
I want to do this myself in a few years (except the homeless part).
Hi Dave, James here from Rhode Island. Looking forward to watching the build. You definitely have some skills so I’m sure this is going to come out nice and something you will be proud of. If your mother is watching I hope she asked you to get a pair of safety glasses. 😂
Great job! Many of us are too encumbered or not brave enough to do what you are doing.
Great job love the long videos it’s never boring take care
This is refreshing a smart mechanic you will do well here.
I’m really thinking about doing this. Thanks for this video. Good luck out there.
thanks. go for it!
I have an idea Put a bed, a computer table, and a ebike and work by delivering food or delivering packages. You can put the truck in park and then go and work by bike. You can work online, and you can work and then sleep.
I recommend a door in the back, you have a pass-thru in the front, you don't need another 3rd door at the front.
love that you kept the snakes
the aluminum bitumen paint is great. it doesnt last forever though but fortunately it isnt too expensive and another coat will revitalize the whole vibe.
I like how chill you are ❤ just working how I will work if I have this van 😂❤ am subscribed for sure 👍
Hell yeah! KEEP THE SNAKES! Awesome!
Ya pass thru to the back is important. If weird things are going on outside, makes sense to be able to drive away without going outside & putting yourself in danger.
I find these builds interesting. Great job so far. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Thanks!
Time your done you will know van i had ford e350 box God bless
,
New subscriber! This is exciting! I'm looking forward to this awesome build!
You should check out nomad brads build he actually used the door as a wall and he has many videos on his build that you may find useful!
i'll check it out thanks!
Man you are really doing a thorough job!!!
I really like the fact that he paid attention to the rust repair early on. That shows attention to detail, for sure.
Good for you and just be careful where you park, I had a bad experience in Arizona one time years ago, the 70s
Keep the bumper because you will need a generator and solar panels, and the bumper will come in handy holding a heavy generator
Awesome video. You’re done with the boring and hard stuff. Let’s get to the fun now
Dude I had to stop the video, the snakes stay. Badass
Please keep the snake art if saw that and immediately thought that would be awesome if you kept it and even did line-x with that same blue on the outside man that would be sick
Great work. Great video god bless you bro
LMFAO I LOVE Harvest Snaps!
Remove the skirt/trim and hang truck boxes for extra storage and to hide waste tanks. Lowering the clearance will be no big deal in that part of the bed.
Interesting stuff … I enjoy
Look up under the lower body of the box, you might want to cut off below the floor and put some storage boxes under there for chairs and recovery gear etc.
Aluminum boxes like below flat bed trucks.
32:06 - yes, EVERYONE calls it that. That is what it has been called for at least 30 years.
oh shit!
Klean Strip Klean-Strip Concrete and Metal Prep from Lowes or Home Depot is a great rust prep and rust prevention. Cheaper than Ospho and works just as great. It's phosphoric acid. Try it
Glad you decided to keep the snakes
Pretty cool to be so crive. Maybe buy an acre of land eventually somewhere so you have your own place to park. Build a fence and your golden.
Funny just b4 you commented on the snakes I was thinking I'd keep those
Im starting my journey too! Just bought a 2007 GMC shuttle bus. Starting the build, no idea what I'm doing 😂
nice! doors and windows for days!
Yes! Snakes! Motorhome captains chair, nice. I have an idea if given your situation I would look for a luxurious chair that reclines flat for sleeping and that would be my bed.
You will want to use steel cutting hacksaw blades in a pro model sabre saw to cut the access door in your cab. That plywood fiberglass board will dull a regular blade in inches of cutting it, I have experience with that.
Nice work y'all
I’d keep that vacuum gauge (fuel economy gauge). Mechanics use them for troubleshooting. It’ll tell you if there’s engine problems and also can tell you what may be the problem (fuel system, valves sticking etc). Just put tape over it if you are getting freaked out.
Bed liner on the roof, dynamat on the interior before all the insulation. Also, keep up the long videos.
Honda has the same problem, my 2011 Pilot's white paint is peeling. Once I get another car, I'll get it repainted in Tijuana for the cheap. Btw, I meant American Honda cars. Never heard or seen any paint problems with Japanese white cars like the NSX or S2000, but then again, those cars are unique and the quality control for them are much higher.
I would say it would be smart to rent a space for your tools. Even if it is a storage unit. You know you will need them at some point.
Too bad you’re not near Cincinnati, I’d introduce you to Lusid’s Global Star L7 paint which can be painted direct to metal. A lot of the guys here use it to paint frames on trucks after preparing it. It does get a hardener mixed into it like a single stage paint BUT it is extremely durable.
Definitely, leave the snakes and remove the U-Haul and everything else. I am going to be doing one soon. I've actually got the same truck like yours and I've got a step van and I've got a Ford E 350 with a Stahl service box that I am looking to trade for a box I think. I've got to decide witch platform to work from. The Ford only has 150. 000 original Miles on it and I believe that the Chevy also only has 166 thousand miles and the step van while it's the coolest is a 79 GMC and has a straight 6 , manual transmission with who knows how many miles. But it's got the most room and it's aluminum. So I don't know. Anyway good luck. Great video, keep them coming.
I agree I would def leave the snakes on it look well cool Michelle-louise from the uk 😊
Dude the snakes look so cool 😎....
yep
i'm jealous and i'm also a new subscriber. you've got the right vehicle. bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wish you the best on your journey and dreams .
thank you!
Get a gallon of rv roll on sealant and tap it will look really good
Great video thank you !!! We’re buying a box truck to convert to a stealth camper. 😊
nice!
I've seen a couple remove the inside walls to the studs and with with aluminum studs kinda 1x1 square walls and ceiling but added more than normal on the walls and ceiling it's light than wood and stronger, you could also use iron 1x1 square, walls and ceiling. You know your walls and ceiling are tough. I would get E rating tires they better and gives you more legal weight
We ain't much different, I had some of the same ideas, and you give me some too, but I would not worry about a few things or making it to perfect. Jose Alaniz fromTN.
1:11:30 that aluminum coating wasnt bad. Thats how it comes. Ive laid down tens of thousands of square feet of similiar non-fibered aluminum coating on roofs. You need to mix it either with a shaker or a paddle on an electric drill.
yeah another viewer mentioned that. wish i knew better at the time
Very interesting. Had to subscribe.
I saw somebody do a similar thing but they kept the rollup door and just put the type of wall you want with a door inside of the rollup door for discretion.
Cool video. Definitely subscribing. Fun fact with how much you are going to spend on making this camper you could buy a decent size house here in Brasil 🤣
37:50 flush cut router blade would have made easy and exact work of that pass through.
the apocalypse happened last week 😂🤣...I was enjoying the video but now after that sentence I'm invested
It may seem mundane, but on the headliner, there is a middle hump. I've wondered what's behind it other than the airbags in the upper curtain area above the head area on both sides for some vans. Was looking into putting a small CB radio in that spot. Nice vision for a future home build. Keep up the great work.
i had that same idea! next time im at the junkyard ill check other vans to see if one has a plastic insert there
97-02 Gm Van's had a cubby hole in that spot..... The perfect spot for the Company Visa 🙂 I don't know if they will fit in newer Vans
In the blocks on that box are just fine. As long as they are not rotted away they will be fine
Love the video so far I'm planning on doing something very similar
What i like about this channel is the videos are long and youre talking as youre working, so theres some insight as to your thought process. The editing is less about time lapses with trendy music, although its ok if you eventually grow into that....some.
If you do install a CB radio, your call sign has to be "Viper"
Viper! love it.. yeah the free youtube music is terrible. i waste way too much time trying to find the least-annoying ones to put over time lapses. i might subscribe to a service that has better stuff to offer.
Oh yeah I love them snakes keep em
They say for best results to use Marine grade or automotive paint. Now it maybe a lil more money but that’s what it’s made for. The wear and tear if you will also maybe raptor linner. You can spray your self. Once again it depends on your funds but it would be doing it right to where no worries to come for years, like close to a decade or more vs like what you were going to use.
Better than the last one I rented lol
By the time you get all the weight in it The leaf springs will be just fine and if you're going to put a lift kit in it, you should see might as well make it four-wheel drive
They make plastic wood blocks that don't rot, but going that far into replacing them may open a bigger can of worms. The ride will be rough until you add weight. I have a 2500 cargo, and it rides the same.
Hey dave enjoyed your vid. Im doing a stepvan right now so alot of simalarities except my box is integeral its a 3500 w19.5 wheels pretty heavy suspension some one built out the inside before i got it but i didnt like it so i gutted it except for the insulation and walls waiting to see what you do on the inside on yours maybe get some new ideas looks like its comming along really well thank you for the vid and ill be watching, where are you ? Im in nm hope you have a good week😊
thanks for watching! the step vans are cool. im in NE. i love NM, i just visited back in april
I’m so jelly!
Was the vid long? Maybe….but boring? Oh nay nay. I am fascinated by your detailed work. I just found you today and subscribed to your channel after 2 minutes of watching. I’m a sort-of old fart woman who dreams of doing what you’re doing. Can’t tell you enough how great it is that you’re doing this when you’re young. It takes gumption and talent and you seem to have lots of both. Looking forward to learning from you. Keep it coming.
I am following you because you are a lot like my youngest brother.
I built out my 17-ft U-Haul box truck and call it Resolve. Been traveling full time in it for a year. If you need any suggestions let me know. Remember it is a rolling earthquake!!! And yes I only get 8 mi to the gallon with mine at 12,300 lbs total. But the room makes it worth it!!!
Remember your PPE (safety glasses) when drilling and sawing, eyes are just as important as hearing if not more important
The snakes are cool, but depending on where you plan to travel, the snakes may make it stick out. Some people like to keep the work van look so they can just park in a walmart parking lot to stay the night without getting unneeded attention. This seems to be the way to go now adays. Park your home where you want it!